Spoked Wheel Safety Element Locking Mechanism

The invention divides the spoke into two functional parts: a threaded stem portion for tightening and an enlarged head portion that acts as a separate locking element. The enlarged head sits in a dedicated seat with a retaining surface, creating a mechanical interlock that prevents loosening without requiring excessive pretensioning forces throughout the entire spoke structure.

The enlarged head of the spoke serves as an intermediary locking element between the threaded stem and the wheel rim. It provides a mechanical barrier that prevents the spoke from unscrewing, while the safety element in the seat provides an additional intermediary component that retains the enlarged head, creating a multi-stage locking system that reduces the pretensioning burden on the spoke itself.

The invention replaces the temperature-sensitive thread-locking paste with a mechanical locking system based on the enlarged head and safety element. This mechanical system is temperature-resistant and provides reliable locking even when the hub reaches high temperatures from brake heating, eliminating the vulnerability to thermal degradation.

The invention substitutes the chemical/thread-locking mechanism with a pure mechanical locking system. The enlarged head in the seat with retaining surface, combined with the safety element, creates a mechanical interlock that does not rely on chemical bonds or paste, thereby eliminating temperature sensitivity and providing reliable locking under high-temperature conditions.

The safety element in the spoke seat provides beforehand cushioning and containment for the enlarged head of the spoke. In case of spoke breakage, the safety element prevents the enlarged head from being projected as a dangerous fragment, thereby cushioning against the harmful effects of potential failure while maintaining the benefits of spoke tightening.

The invention converts the potential harm of spoke breakage into a controlled scenario. The safety element transforms what would be a dangerous projectile (the enlarged head) into a retained component, turning a harmful failure mode into a controlled containment situation that protects surrounding components and personnel.

By segmenting the spoke into a threaded stem and an enlarged head, the invention allows the stem to be tightened to moderate torque (reducing fragment projection risk) while the enlarged head provides the primary loosening resistance through mechanical interlocking in the seat, decoupling these two functions.

The enlarged head acts as an intermediary that provides loosening resistance without requiring high pretensioning. It mechanically engages with the seat and retaining surface, creating a locking effect that prevents unscrewing while allowing the stem to be tightened to lower, safer torque values that reduce fragment projection hazards.